Rotational couplers for light fixtures

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a coupling assembly for joining together a pair of light fixture segments at a joint interface therebetween to form a light fixture assembly, comprising a body rotatably mountable on a first of the light fixture segments about a central axis, the body configured to operably engage a drive tool with a drive axis thereof aligned with the central axis to rotate the body between a release position and a coupling position, the body having a designated receiving location to receive a complementary coupling element on a second of the light fixture segments, and configured to provide an arcuate pathway extending from designated receiving location, wherein the designated receiving location and pathway are configured to permit the complementary coupling element to travel along the pathway as the body rotates on the central axis, and thereby to laterally transfer the complementary coupling element radially toward the central axis to draw the first and second light fixture segment toward forming the joint interface when the body reaches the coupling position corresponding to the complementary coupling element reaching a corresponding position along the pathway.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of copending U.S. application Ser.No. 16/105,668, filed Aug. 20, 2018, which is a Continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 15/603,070, filed May 23, 2017 (now U.S. Pat. No.10,066,812). The disclosures set forth in the referenced applicationsare incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to light fixtures and other wall orceiling mountable articles and, for example, to methods and devices forcoupling adjacent units thereof in a light fixture installation.

BACKGROUND

Linear light fixtures are typically formed from aligned housings whichare fastened together with coupling interfaces between them. With theadvances in both technology and price, LED's are housed in structuresthat are decreasing in size allowing designers to achieve new opticaleffects at relatively smaller scale. Some couplers make use of threadedmembers to displace a linkage to draw adjacent segments of a lightfixture together. While such couplers are currently deployed in aneffective manner, the use of the fastener to displace the linkage canpresent disadvantages, since it can require many full rotations of thefastener to complete the coupling.

It would thus be desirable to provide alternative approaches for jointinterfaces.

SUMMARY

In an aspect, there is provided a coupling assembly for joining togethera pair of light fixture segments at a joint interface therebetween toform a light fixture assembly, comprising a body rotatably mountable ona first of the light fixture segments about a central axis, the bodyconfigured to operably engage a drive tool with a drive axis thereofaligned with the central axis to rotate the body between a releaseposition and a coupling position. The body has an opening to receive acomplementary coupling element on a second of the light fixturesegments. An arcuate pathway extends from opening, wherein the openingis configured to permit the complementary coupling element to enter thepathway and to travel along the pathway, and wherein the pathway isconfigured to laterally transfer the complementary coupling elementtoward the central axis and thereby draw the first and second lightfixture segment toward forming the joint interface when the body reachesthe coupling position corresponding to the complementary couplingelement reaching a corresponding position along the pathway.

In another aspect, there is provided a coupling assembly for joiningtogether a pair of light fixture segments at a joint interfacetherebetween to form a light fixture assembly. The coupling assemblycomprises a body rotatably mountable on a first of the light fixturesegments about a central axis. The body is configured to operably engagea drive tool with a drive axis thereof aligned with the central axis torotate the body between a release position and a coupling position. Thebody has a designated receiving location to receive a complementarycoupling element on a second of the light fixture segments, and isconfigured to provide an arcuate pathway extending from designatedreceiving location. The designated receiving location and pathway areconfigured to permit the complementary coupling element to travel alongthe pathway as the body rotates on the central axis, and thereby tolaterally transfer the complementary coupling element radially towardthe central axis to draw the first and second light fixture segmentstoward forming the joint interface when the body reaches the couplingposition when the complementary coupling element reaches a correspondingposition along the pathway.

In some exemplary embodiments, the designated receiving locationincludes an opening formed in the body.

In some exemplary embodiments, the arcuate pathway may be provided as aslot extending from the opening.

In some exemplary embodiments, the opening may be at a first radialdistance from the central axis and the slot includes a terminuspositioned at a second radial distance from the central axis, whereinthe first distance is greater than the second distance.

Some exemplary embodiments may further comprise a mounting unitconfigured to be installed on the first light fixture segment, whereinthe body is rotabably mounted on the mounting unit.

In some exemplary embodiments, the body may be provided with a centralhub portion with a central passage extending therethrough, the hubportion having a drive tool engaging structure.

In some exemplary embodiments, the central passage in the tool engagingstructure may be configured at a first end to form a drive toolreceiving cavity.

In some exemplary embodiments, the central passage may be configured ata second end to receive a threaded fastener to rotatably mount the hubportion to the mounting unit.

Some exemplary embodiments may further comprise a web portion extendingradially outwardly from and at least partially extending around the hubportion, the web having a peripheral region with a discontinuity formedtherein to define the opening.

In some exemplary embodiments, the web portion may be disc-shaped withan enlarged outer rim and a pair of opposite surfaces, and the pathwayextends from the opening and is open to both opposite surfaces to formthe slot in the web portion.

In some exemplary embodiments, the mounting unit may be elongate andconfigured to be mountable along a corresponding one of a pair pathwaysformed in respective end regions of each of the first and second lightfixture segments to be adjacent the joint interface.

In some exemplary embodiments, the mounting unit may be provided with afirst end region which is configured to receive the body rotatablymounted thereon for use in a first mode to be mounted in the first lightfixture segment, and a second end region with a formation extendingoutwardly therefrom for use in a second mode to be mounted in the secondlight figure segment with the formation to serve as the complementarycoupling element.

In some exemplary embodiments, the formation may be a post extendingupwardly from the mounting unit with a diameter which is smaller than awidth of the pathway.

In some exemplary embodiments, the pathway may include a plurality ofserrations along at least one boundary thereof to engage thecomplementary coupling unit to cause an progressively indexing effectbetween the body and the complementary coupling unit as thecomplementary coupling unit progresses along the at least one boundaryduring travel along the pathway.

In another aspect, there is provided a method of assembling together apair of light fixture segments at a joint interface therebetween to forma light fixture assembly using an assembly according to any exemplaryembodiment or aspect described in the present disclosure and claims,comprising:

-   -   a. providing a pair of light fixture segments;    -   b. rotatably mounting the body of any exemplary embodiment or        aspect described in the present disclosure and claims, on a        first of the light fixture segments;    -   c. providing the complementary coupling element of any exemplary        embodiment or aspect described in the present disclosure and        claims, on a second of the light fixture segments;    -   d. positioning the complementary coupling element adjacent the        designated receiving location in the release position; and    -   e. engaging a drive tool with the body thereof aligned with a        central axis of the body to rotate the body from the release        position to the coupling position, with the complementary        coupling element displaced along the pathway.

In another aspect, there is provided a kit comprising the assemblyaccording to any exemplary embodiment or aspect described in the presentdisclosure and claims.

In another aspect, there is provided a light fixture segment comprisingthe body according to any exemplary embodiment or aspect described inthe present disclosure and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Several exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will beprovided, by way of examples only, with reference to the appendeddrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a light fixture assembly;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a portion of theassembly of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 to 5 are plan views of the assembly taken on arrow A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of another portion of theassembly of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views of another portion of the assemblyof FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a sectional perspective view taken on line 9 of FIG. 7; and

FIGS. 10 to 14 are plan, perspective or side views of a component shownin FIGS. 7 to 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It should be understood that the invention is not limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangement ofcomponents set forth in the following description or illustrated in thedrawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of beingpracticed or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to beunderstood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for thepurpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The useof “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof hereinis meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalentsthereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms“connected,” “coupled,” and “mounted,” and variations thereof herein areused broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings,and mountings. In addition, the terms “connected” and “coupled” andvariations thereof are not restricted to physical, mechanical or otherconnections or couplings. The terms upper, lower, and vertical areintended for operative context only and are not necessarily intended tolimit the invention only to those configurations or orientations.Furthermore, and as described in subsequent paragraphs, the specificmechanical and/or other configurations illustrated in the drawings areintended to exemplify embodiments of the invention. However, otheralternative mechanical and/or other configurations are possible whichare considered to be within the teachings of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 1 shows a partial perspective assembly view of a light fixtureassembly 10 having a plurality (in this example a pair) of light fixturesegments 12, 14 with respective end regions 12 a, 14 a, with end region12 a being seen in FIG. 2. The end regions are configured to beassembled together at a joint interface 16.

FIG. 2 shows a coupling assembly 20 for joining together the lightfixture segments 12, 14 at the joint interface 16, comprising a body 22rotatably mountable on the light fixture segment 12 about a central axis24. The body 22 is configured to operably engage a drive tool shownschematically at 26 with a drive axis 26 a thereof aligned with thecentral axis 24 to rotate the body 22 between a release position and acoupling position, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 5 respectively, as will bedescribed.

The body has an opening 28 to receive a complementary coupling element30 positioned on the light fixture segment 14, as will be described. Afirst arcuate pathway 32 extends between the opening 28 and a terminus,shown at 34 in FIG. 3, wherein the opening 28 is configured to permitthe complementary coupling element 30 to enter the pathway 32 and totravel along the pathway 32 toward the terminus 34. The pathway 32 isfurther configured to laterally transfer the complementary couplingelement 30 toward the central axis 24 and thereby draw the first andsecond light fixture segment 12, 14 toward forming the joint interface16 when the body 22 reaches the coupling position (FIG. 5) correspondingto the complementary coupling element 30 reaching a correspondingposition along the pathway and toward the terminus.

In this case, the complementary coupling unit 30 need not reach theterminus 34 but instead reach a position between the opening 28 and theterminus 34 corresponding to a displacement of the complementarycoupling unit 30 a distance toward the central axis sufficient to takeup the spacing between the first and second segments 12, 14 to form thejoint interface 16.

In this case, the joint interface 16 forms a connection between thesegments 12, 14. The segments 12, 14 may be pre-assembled as operablelight fixture units, per se, so that they may be operably interconnectedacross or over the joint interface 16 to complete the light fixtureassembly 10, such as by connecting power lines between drivers and/orlight emitting arrays therein, or optics such as lenses or the like.

Referring to FIG. 3, the opening 28 is at a first radial distance R1from the central axis 24, while the terminus 34 is at a second radialdistance R2 from the central axis 24, wherein the first radial distanceR1 is greater than the second radial distance R2, so that when the body22 is rotated about the central axis 24 the complementary coupling unit30 is drawn toward the central axis 24.

As shown in FIG. 2, also provided is a mounting unit 40 which isconfigured to be installed on the light fixture segment 12, wherein thebody 22 is rotatably mounted on the mounting unit 40, as will bedescribed. The mounting unit 40 may also be configured to also provide amounting location for the corresponding coupling unit 30 so that themounting unit 40 may be used in two mounting modes, as will bedescribed.

In some exemplary embodiments as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7 to 14, the body22 may be provided with a central hub portion 42 with a central passage44 extending therethrough, and a drive tool engaging structure 46. Thecentral passage 44 extends through the tool engaging structure 46 and isconfigured at a first end 48 to form a drive tool receiving cavity 48 a.The central passage 44 is also configured at a second end 50 to receivea threaded fastener to rotatably mount the hub portion 42 to themounting unit 40. In this instance, the threaded fastener (not shown)may extend through the second end 50 after being inserted through thedrive tool receiving cavity 48.

In some exemplary embodiments, a web portion 52 may extend radiallyoutwardly from and at least partially extend around the hub portion 42.The web portion 52 has a peripheral region 54 with a discontinuityformed therein to define the opening 28.

The web portion 52 may be provided in a disc-shaped configuration withan enlarged outer rim 56 and a pair of opposite surfaces. In this case,the pathway may extend from the opening 28 and be exposed to bothopposite surfaces 58 a, 58 b to form an open groove (or slot) in the webportion 52.

While the body 22 is provided in a disc-shaped configuration withopening 28, the body may be provided in other configurations without theopening. For instance, the body may be provided as an arcuate bracestructure which extends from the central hub to provide the arcuatesurface, such as surface 32 a bordering pathway 32, and thus without anopening of the type seen at 28.

In some exemplary embodiments, the mounting unit 40 may be elongate andconfigured to be mountable along a mounting region 62 formed inrespective end regions 12 a, 14 a of each of the light fixture segments12, 14 to be adjacent the joint interface 16. In this case, the mountingunit 40 may be provided with a first surface 40 a to receive the post 66thereon and a second surface 40 b to be complementary with acorresponding surface 62 a on the mounting region 62. Therefore, thejoint interface 16 may be formed with the body 22 and the complementarycoupling unit 30 by way of two of the mounting units 40, wherein one isin a first mode to mount the body 22 to the light fixture segment 12 anda second mode to mount the complementary coupling unit 30 to the lightfixture segment 14.

In some exemplary embodiments, the mounting unit 40 may be provided witha first end region 64 a which is configured to receive the body 12rotatably mounted thereon (by way of an internally threaded post 65 toreceive a threaded fastener extending through the second end 50 of thecentral passage 44) for use in a first mode to be mounted in the lightfixture segment 12, and a second end region 64 b with a formation 64 cextending outwardly therefrom.

The formation 64 c may be provided as a post 66 extending upwardly fromthe mounting unit and may be used in a second mode to be mounted in thesecond light figure segment with the formation to serve as thecomplementary coupling element 30, so that the same post 66 may performthe role of the component element 30. Meanwhile, the body includes asecond arcuate pathway 68 which, in this case, may be provided as a slotwhich extends along the web portion with a relatively equal radialdistance from the central axis 24. The mounting unit 40 may also beprovided with one or more passages shown at 70, in which one may receivea locking fastener 72 extending through the second pathway 66 and lockto fix the body 22 in the coupling position. (In this case, the multiplepassages 70 may allow the mounting unit 40 to be used with differentlysized bodies 22).

In some exemplary embodiments, the pathway may include a plurality isserrations 74 (as seen in FIG. 3) along at least one boundary (in thiscase the surface 32 a) thereof to engage the post 66 to cause anprogressively indexing effect between the body 22 and the post as thepost progresses along the boundary during travel along the pathwaytoward the terminus. If desired, the post 66 may also be internallythreaded to receive a fastener, not shown, to fix the position of thepost 66 relative to the body 20.

The light fixture assembly 10 may thus be assembled as follows. First,the light fixture segments 12 and 14 may be prepared with a mountingunit 40 installed in each mounting region 62. In the case of fixturesegment 12, the body 22 may be mounted on the internally threaded post65 by way of a threaded fastener and locking fastener 72 extendingthrough the second pathway 68 and loosely threaded into one of thelocking passages 70. Thus, with each fixture segment so prepared, theend regions 12 a and 14 a may be aligned with the body 22, in end region12 a, oriented with the opening 28 open to receive the post 66, in endregion 14 a. Next, the drive tool 26 may be engaged with the cavity 48 ato rotate the body 22, through an angle of rotation θ (as shown in FIG.4) to cause the post 66 to move relative to the body 22 along the outerboundary (surface 32 a) of the first pathway 32, eventually engaging theserrations 74 and the resulting index effect thereof. Rotating the body22 further will progressively tighten the joint interface 16 until asuitable tightness is achieved, at which time the fastener 72 and, ifapplicable the fastener in the post 66, may then be tightened to fix thebody 22 relative to its corresponding mounting unit via fastener 72 andto the post 66 and thus the mounting unit 40 on the adjacent fixturesegment 14, thus completing the joint interface 16. Thus, in someexemplary embodiments, the coupling may be deployed with a rotation of adrive tool through an angle of rotation of 90 degrees or less, forexample between about 25 and about 75 degrees, thereby allowing thecoupling function to be completed in some cases in one or two rotationsof a drive tool, a first rotation to snug up the coupling and the secondto tighten the coupling.

While exemplary embodiments of a coupler are disclosed herein withreference to light fixtures and/or light fixture housings, suchcouplings may be used in other coupling interfaces, such as otherceiling or wall mounted decorative units or the like.

While the present disclosure describes various exemplary embodiments,the disclosure is not so limited. To the contrary, the disclosure isintended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements, aswill be readily appreciated by the person of ordinary skill in the art.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A light fixture coupler for releasablyjoining at least a first segment and a second segment at a jointinterface therebetween, the light fixture coupler comprising a body tobe rotatably retained on one of the first and second segments, the bodyconfigured to rotate about a central axis between a release position anda coupling position, the body having a designated receiving location toreceive a complementary coupling element on the other of the first andsecond segments, and a pathway defined on the body and extending fromthe designated receiving location, wherein the designated receivinglocation and the pathway are configured to permit the complementarycoupling element to travel along the pathway as the body rotates towardthe coupling position, and thereby to laterally transfer the one segmenttoward the other segment to form the joint interface when the bodyreaches the coupling position with the complementary coupling elementengaged within the pathway.
 2. The light fixture coupler of claim 1,wherein the designated receiving location includes an opening formed inthe body.
 3. The light fixture coupler of claim 2, wherein the pathwayis a slot extending from the opening.
 4. The light fixture coupler ofclaim 3, wherein the opening is at a first radial distance from acentral axis and the slot includes a terminus positioned at a secondradial distance from the central axis, wherein the first distance isgreater than the second distance, so that when the body is rotated aboutthe central axis the complementary coupling element is drawn toward thecentral axis.
 5. The light fixture coupler of claim 3, wherein the bodyhas a central hub portion with a central passage extending therethrough,the hub portion having a drive tool engaging structure.
 6. The lightfixture coupler of claim 5, wherein the central passage in the drivetool engaging structure is configured at a first end to form a drivetool receiving cavity.
 7. The light fixture coupler of claim 6, whereinthe central passage is configured at a second end to receive a threadedfastener to rotatably mount the hub portion to the one segment.
 8. Thelight fixture coupler of claim 5, further comprising a web portionextending radially outwardly from and at least partially extendingaround the hub portion, the web portion having a peripheral region witha discontinuity formed therein to define the opening.
 9. The lightfixture coupler of claim 8, wherein the web portion is disc-shaped withan enlarged outer rim and a pair of opposite surfaces, and the pathwayextends from the opening and is open to both opposite surfaces to formthe slot in the web portion.
 10. The light fixture coupler of claim 1,wherein the pathway includes a plurality of serrations along at leastone boundary thereof to engage the complementary coupling element tocause a progressively indexing effect between the body and thecomplementary coupling element as the complementary coupling elementprogresses along the at least one boundary during travel along thepathway.
 11. A kit comprising the light fixture coupler of claim 1 atleast in part.
 12. A light fixture segment comprising the light fixturecoupler of claim
 1. 13. A method of assembling together a light fixtureincluding connecting at least a first segment with a second segment at ajoint interface using the light fixture coupler of claim 1, comprising:providing a first segment and a second segment; rotatably retaining thebody on one of the first and second segments; providing a complementarycoupling element on the other of the first and second segments;positioning the complementary coupling element adjacent the receivinglocation in the release position; and rotating the body from the releaseposition to the coupling position, with the complementary couplingelement displaced along the pathway.